Does anyone know which Autumn Crocus this is? It's maybe 6-8 inches tall when blooming, and the foliage, in the Spring, is close to 12 inches tall. Thanks for any help!

Possibly Colchicum byzantinum, which is often marketed as Colchicum autumnale 'Major'.

http://www.pacificbulbsociety....

There's a photo at the bottom which resembles yours ..

http://www.missouribotanicalga...

Thanks Janet. I'm not sure if it's a match or not. The petals on mine are really skinny. The photo at the bottom of the second link looks really close, but I think those petals are somewhat wider. Any idea if the same variety can have petals that are different widths? I know nothing about the plant!

I can't be sure either Natalie, but if you look at the photos on the PBS of the plants growing in Washington DC it appears there are different clones.

For your confusing pleasure, see the many choices on the SRGC forum, like these threads:

Colchicum autumnale
Colchicum 2011
Colchicum 2012
Colchicum 2013

You don't have to be a member of the Scottish Rock Garden Club to participate or ask a question, but you do need to register as a forum member.

Thanks Janet, I'll look into that a little further.

Confusing pleasure. Right up my alley!

I'll take a look at those links too!

I really appreciate the help!

whatever what it is it looks old, healthy and floriferous, good job

My first thought was False Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)

teengardener1888 said:whatever what it is it looks old, healthy and floriferous, good job

Were you talking about me, or the plant?

Sorry, couldn't resist! I've seen False Autumn Crocus in person, and I don't think that is the same one. Good guess though. But, when teengardener mentioned "old", I'm wondering if maybe mine are actually old enough to where they don't look like they did when they were younger. Kind of like me. We rented our house to a friend, and he is the one who planted them.l When I took this picture, they had been in the ground at least 10 years. I asked him what they were, and he said they were Autumn Crocus, but didn't know which ones. Since then, I have seen False Autumn Crocus, and they didn't look the same to me.

Natalie said:
Were you talking about me, or the plant?

Sorry, couldn't resist! I've seen False Autumn Crocus in person, and I don't think that is the same one. Good guess though. But, when teengardener mentioned "old", I'm wondering if maybe mine are actually old enough to where they don't look like they did when they were younger. Kind of like me. We rented our house to a friend, and he is the one who planted them.l When I took this picture, they had been in the ground at least 10 years. I asked him what they were, and he said they were Autumn Crocus, but didn't know which ones. Since then, I have seen False Autumn Crocus, and they didn't look the same to me.

i was talking about the plant

I knew that. I was just teasing you.

Natalie said:I knew that. I was just teasing you.

and i was humoring your teasing

The common name "Fall crocus" applies to not only most of the species of the Colchicum genus, but also the real crocuses of the Crocus genus that bloom in the fall (e.g. Crocus speciosus). The two are very different, and Colchicum belongs to the Lily family, while Crocus belongs to the Iris family.

So Natalie, it's not unusual that the two "Fall crocuses" that you saw would be different. They very well could be different, but with the same name "Fall crocus".

Thanks Rick. I understand that part of it. I'm just trying to identify which one mine is. I sure do love it!

Natalie, there's a colchicum with many narrow-petalled flowers exactly like yours pictured in 'The Bulb Book' by Martyn Rix and Roger Phillips. It's called Colchicum laetum.

Thanks June. I looked up some pictures online, and it's another close one. There are very few pictures of it online though. One description said that C. laetum has rounded ends, and mine look kind of pointed to me. Other than that, it's the only thing I can see that is different.

I've been looking on the links that Rick posted, and I'm starting to think that it could be C. montana. Not at all sure though!

I may have to give up on this quest. So many of them look alike, and it may be impossible to ever figure out which one it is. My main goal was to be able to post the pictures in the database, under the correct name.

To be honest I don't think you will be able to say what it is for sure given variations. Unless the bulb was bought from a specialist nursery, the most likely is one which is commonly available, widely sold and a 'good doer' as those which perform well are widely sold for obvious reasons..

Check this list of Colchicaceae, there's more when you click on 'show all'

http://colchicaceae.e-monocot....

Janet, I'm sure it isn't something fancy or rare. My renter was a landscape architect, but he was also a renter, so he wasn't going to spend good money for anything rare.

I think I'm going to mark this thread "done", since it's looking like this is going to be impossible! I'm totally okay with that. I sure do appreciate all of the help that everyone has given me!

Natalie said:I think I'm going to mark this thread "done", since it's looking like this is going to be impossible!

I think that's a wise decision. None of us are Colchicum experts, which is what you really need.

It's always better to leave such an entry out of the database, rather than to include a questionably named species as correct.

I agree totally Rick!